Starbase Updates | August 2024

What's Happening at Starbase Texas in August 2024?

This page is a summary of the major highlights at Starbase Texas over the month of August in 2024. All updates are sourced from publicly available posts from the user /u/threelonmusketeers who updates the Starship Dev Threads on Lemmy and Reddit.

 

August 31st, 2024

Other:

August 30th, 2024

August 29th, 2024

August 28th, 2024

  • Aug 27th cryo delivery tally.
  • Aug 27th addendum: 4 more catch bumper pads are installed on the port-side chopstick, bringing the total to 5.
  • Starkitty spotted :)
  • Pad A chopsticks work continues. (NSF, Gisler)
  • Pad B flame trench work continues. (Gisler)
  • Office construction continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
  • Nice photo of the Rocket Garden and Sanchez site, with S??, S32, S26, S30, B14.1. (Hammer)
  • Test Tank 16 is in the "can crusher" testing apparatus at Massey's. (Gisler)

August 27th, 2024

McGregor activities (2024-08-27):

August 26th, 2024

Other:

  • Statement from the FAA to NSF regarding Starship Flight 5: "The FAA is evaluating SpaceX's proposed license modification for its Starship Flight h5 mission. SpaceX must meet all safety, environmental and other licensing requirements prior to FAA authorization. Safety will drive the timeline. Please contact SpaceX for information about the proposed changes to its license."
  • Pad B flame trench excavation diagrams. (ChromeKiwi 1, ChromeKiwi 2)

August 25th, 2024

August 24th, 2024

August 23rd, 2024

  • Aug 22nd cryo delivery tally.
  • S33 aft section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2, notably very little heat shielding. (LabPadre, ViX, Mary)
  • Aft section is mated with rest of ship. (Starship Gazer, Golden)
  • New stringers observed on the nose of S33. (Golden)
  • Raptors #349, #373, #348 and #366 are delivered. (Mary)
  • Pad B: The LR11000 CC8800-1 crane working on assembly and installation of a catch net on Tower B. (ViX)
  • Some large pipes are delivered. (clwphoto1)

Other:

  • 1-hour reflight turnaround time for Starship is still the goal. Unclear if this is for the booster, the ship, or both. Booster would probably be easier.

August 22nd, 2024

August 21st, 2024

Other:

  • Compilation of Tower B stacking. (LabPadre)

August 20th, 2024

  • Aug 19th cryo delivery tally.
  • Aug 19th addendum: Video of S33 downcomer and jig entering Megabay 2. (ViX)
  • In the morning, the LOX downcomer enters Megabay 2 as well. (ViX)
  • Build site video tour.
  • Construction on offices and connecting passageway to Starfactory continues, and the two structures are now connected. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
  • Pad A: A "burn plate" is lifted onto booster quick disconnect hood, and tower cladding is being added/replaced. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Pad B: Elevator sections 7 and 8 are lifted. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Crews are prepping tower module 9 for its upcoming lift. (Gisler)
  • Tanks which arrived at Brownsville port on Aug 18th are arriving at Massey's. (LabPadre)
  • Test Tank 16 still at Massey's.

August 19th, 2024

McGregor activities (2024-08-19):

  • Possible second Raptor 3 test fire, lasting 169 seconds, which matches full duration burn of Super Heavy. (NSF)

August 18th, 2024

August 17th, 2024

August 16th, 2024

Other:

August 15th, 2024

Other:

August 14th, 2024

August 13th, 2024

August 12th, 2024

August 11th, 2024

Other:

August 10th, 2024

Other:

August 9th, 2024

August 8th, 2024

Other:

August 7th, 2024

August 6th, 2024

August 5th, 2024

McGregor:

August 4th, 2024

August 3rd, 2024

  • Aug 2nd cryo delivery tally.
  • Overnight, ship lifting jig enters Megabay 2. Another B15 3-ring section is moved to Megabay 1.
  • Pad B: Module 6 is lifted. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2, Gisler)
  • Load spreader is lowered. It is thought that the CC8800-1 crane needs to be reconfigured to allow stacking of the next tower module.
  • Build site: S30 moves from Sanchez to Megabay 2, and is lifted onto the back left work stand. (LabPadre, ViX, Gisler, clwphoto1)
  • R-Vac #398 is removed from S30, and #384 looks to be its replacement (LabPadre, ViX)
  • Office window installation continues (Gisler)

Other:

August 2nd, 2024

Other:

August 1st, 2024

LC-39A: